The seabird islands of the western British Isles are the envy of the birding world, yet it is not easy to sample the wonderful diversity of their character and come face-to-face with seagoing inhabitants. This unusual expedition cruise will appeal to those who wish to explore our coastal waters, observe the marvellous seabird and marine life and walk across untouched coastal wilderness areas. The focus of our expedition is the prolific birdlife but the region is also rich in historical and cultural heritage and with our naturalists and local guides we will discover some of the most remote and uninhabited islands that surround the coast of Britain together with inhabited islands such as Alderney and Fair Isle.
Cruising aboard the 84-passenger Ocean Nova, we will be able to enjoy expedition cruising at its best. Although we will set sail with a schedule, it will not be set in stone. The Captain and expedition team keep a flexible approach allowing you the opportunity to fully experience the unexpected, whether it be a sighting of dolphins, a whale or any unusual event. Our exploration of inlets, estuaries and protected coastal waters will be made all the more enjoyable by the use of our Zodiac landing craft which enable us to land in remote places such as St Kilda, providing for an unusual perspective and making the otherwise inaccessible readily available. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some of our most beautiful places and view some of the extensive birdlife. No matter your level of expertise you will find a warm welcome and a cornucopia of stunning sights and sounds.
Ocean Nova
Built in Denmark in 1992, the Ocean Nova was completely refurbished in 2006 and now operates as a small, comfortable expedition ship, accommodating up to 84 passengers.
Cabins are spread over two decks and include cabins for the single traveller, double and triple cabins, all with sea-view and private facilities. The comfortable dining room located on the Upper deck seats all passengers in a single sitting and offers delicious meals with a mixture of table service and buffet. The informal dining arrangement adds to the friendly atmosphere onboard and meals are a great chance to discuss all you have seen with your fellow travellers, and for the expedition team to share their knowledge.
Itinerary
Day 1 Poole, England.
Embark the Ocean Nova this afternoon. A transfer will be provided from Poole Railway Station at a fixed time. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
Day 2 Alderney, Channel Islands.
Spend the morning on Alderney where our onboard team will lead a series of walks to explore the island. Visit the island’s only town, St Anne, which has all the old world charm of a Normandy village with tiny squares and pastel shaded cottages and shops. You may wish to visit the museum which is packed with historical artefacts ranging from the Romans to the German occupation during the Second World War. Those feeling active can join a walk to see the German fortifications and Victorian forts along the coastline before arriving at Les Etacs gannet colony. These rocks are situated just 100 metres offshore and are home to 6,000 pairs of gannets. Return to the ship for lunch and maybe join a lecture during our afternoon at sea.
Day 3 Isles of Scilly.
Spend the morning on traffic-free Tresco, walking its idyllic lanes from the beach to the famous subtropical Abbey Gardens. Defying the Atlantic weather, this miracle of a garden is home to more than 20,000 species of plants from over 80 countries. Enjoy time to wander along the paths, maybe visit the Valhalla collection of ship figureheads from ships wrecked on the islands or relax in the café. We spend the afternoon on St Agnes, the most south-westerly community in the UK. Surrounded by rocks and reefs this delightful tiny island offers marvellous coastal walks. The small island of Gugh lies across a narrow sandbar and here we find a single stone monolith called the ‘Old Man of Gugh’ which dates back to the Bronze Age. En-route we plan to sail past the nearby island of Annet, the second largest of the uninhabited islands and a bird sanctuary. We will cruise by to see the coastline alive with puffins, European storm petrels and shag.
Day 4 Lundy Island & Skomer Island, Wales.
This morning we will explore Lundy, a remote island in the Bristol Channel. Walk along its traffic-free lanes and paths, explore the wide bays and coves by way of hanging valleys, observe the puffins nesting in abandoned rabbit warrens, have a drink at the inn and buy some of the island’s ‘puffin stamps’ at the shop. This afternoon we will sail on to Skomer Island and discover the coastline on a Zodiac cruise. One of the most important wildlife sites in Northern Europe, this island has fantastic birdlife including 6,000 pairs of puffins, countless numbers of guillemots, fulmar, kittiwakes and the elusive Manx shearwater and storm petrel. Return to the ship and later this evening we hope to sail around Grassholm; be on deck to view one of the world’s largest gannetries with over 34,000 breeding pairs.
Day 5 Holy Island, Wales & Calf of Man, Isle of Man.
Over breakfast we arrive at Holyhead, adjacent to Anglesey with its spectacular sea cliffs. Here we will visit the RSPB’s reserve at South Stack, a beautiful but fragile maritime sward and heathland which is home to a large population of guillemots and razorbills. If we are lucky, we might also see some choughs. Returning to the ship for lunch we hope to arrive in the late afternoon at the Calf of Man, a 600 acre island situated off the southern tip of the Isle of Man, and home to thousands of seabirds including Manx shearwater, kittiwake and razorbill. Meanwhile in the water we may be lucky to see dolphins and seals.
Day 6 Ailsa Craig, Scotland & Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland.
In the early morning we will anchor off the granite island of Ailsa Craig. This tiny island, just 2.5 miles in circumference, was once a refuge for sailors and base to a 19th century lighthouse. Today it is an RSPB reserve and home to the third largest gannet colony in Britain. We will use the Zodiacs and cruise the coastal waters for a closer look searching for puffins, guillemots and gulls. Sail in the late morning towards Rathlin Island. Located just a few miles from the North Antrim coast, Rathlin has been settled for more than 6,000 years. Today, there are only 80 or so inhabitants, whereas before the famine there were 1,200. Enjoy a guided walk which will take in the prolific seabird life with astonishing numbers of auks, kittiwakes and grey seals. This evening we will sail past the magnificent cliffs to the north of the island which are home to the largest sea bird colony in Ireland.
Day 7 Staffa & Lunga, Scotland.
Overnight we will sail to Staffa, where the perpendicular rock face features an imposing series of black basalt columns, known as the Colonnade, which have been cut by the sea into cathedralesque caverns, most notably Fingal’s Cave. Weather permitting, we will use our Zodiacs to explore closer. We continue to Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles. Of volcanic origin, Lunga has been described as a ‘green jewel in a peacock sea’. Populated until the 19th century, the island still bears the remains of black houses. There is prolific birdlife on the island including storm petrels, puffins, kittiwakes and Manx shearwaters.
Day 8 St Kilda & Stac Lee, Outer Hebrides.
Arrive this morning at St Kilda, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some 50 miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. Dominated by the highest cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, Hirta, St Kilda’s main island was occupied on and off for at least 2,000 years, with the last 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants evacuated at their own request in 1930. Immediately after the evacuation, the island was bought by the Marquess of Bute to protect the island’s thousands of seabirds including puffins and fulmars, and in 1957 it was bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland. St Kilda is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites with dual status reflecting its natural and cultural significance. The local ranger will join us on board before our expedition staff lead several guided walks on the island. This afternoon we cruise past two of the largest gannetries in the world at Stac Lee and Boreray. These impressive stacs rise 170 metres from the sea and are home to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannets.
Day 9 Handa.
Spend the morning at sea, maybe join a lecture or find a spot on deck to watch for wildlife. Over lunch we arrive at Handa where we will use our Zodiacs to explore the magnificent sea cliffs of Torridonian sandstone which rise from the Atlantic. The island comes alive each spring when nearly 100,000 seabirds gather to breed, including internationally important numbers of guillemot, razorbill, puffins and great skua.
Day 10 Fair Isle, Shetland Islands.
Anchor over breakfast off the remote island of Fair Isle. Located midway between the Shetland and Orkney Islands, the tiny population of sixty or so islanders always extend us a warm welcome. Enjoy a walk across the island searching out the puffin slopes, perhaps visit the community hall for a cup of tea or maybe purchase some of the famous knitwear. Sail over lunch and spend the afternoon at sea as we return to mainland Scotland.
Day 11 Aberdeen.
Disembark after breakfast. Transfers will be provided to Aberdeen Airport and Railway Station at a fixed time.
Dates and Prices
28 April to 8 May 2025 | ||
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Category | Price | |
Category 1 Bunk Bedded cabin for twin use | Fully Booked | |
Category 2 Standard Twin | Fully Booked | |
Category 3 Superior Twin | Fully Booked | |
Category 1 Bunk bedded cabin for sole use | Fully Booked | |
Category 2 Standard twin for sole use | Fully Booked |
Tour Reference Code: SCON280425
PRICE INCLUDES: 10 or 11 nights aboard the Ocean Nova on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
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Deckplan
Ocean Nova
Built in Denmark in 1992, the Ocean Nova was completely refurbished in 2006 and now operates as a small, comfortable expedition ship, accommodating up to 84 passengers.
Cabins are spread over two decks and include cabins for the single traveller, double and triple cabins, all with sea-view and private facilities. The comfortable dining room located on the Upper deck seats all passengers in a single sitting and offers delicious meals with a mixture of table service and buffet. The informal dining arrangement adds to the friendly atmosphere onboard and meals are a great chance to discuss all you have seen with your fellow travellers, and for the expedition team to share their knowledge.
Also of Interest
Island Hopping in the Hebrides
A week-long expedition in the Hebrides aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Oban / Staffa / Iona / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Canna / Isle of Skye / Loch Scavaig / Inverie / Lunga / Tobermory / Oban
Scottish Island Odyssey
An expedition through the Hebridean, Orkney & Shetland Islands aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Oban / Colonsay / Iona / Staffa / Lunga / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Handa / Inverewe / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Papa Westray / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Noss Head / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000